Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-12

Cbr7nl,tntcdttorls on any subject.
The Post persists in its attempt to fasten the re-
sponsibility for the panic among the clerks upon
those who point out, as distinguished from those
who create, the causes OF alarm. THE STAR did
not make the estimate that seven-eighthS OF tile Old
employees would be discharged. 1t was made by
those who, in THE STARS opinion are given by the
new rules the power 10 bring about these dismis-
sails without mourning the individual response
blity which is felt by those making discharges at
present, and the estimate was reasonably viewed
as an announcement of intention. II the Post, as
the authorized mouthpiece OF the heads OF bureaus
as well as OF the commission, declares
a change OF intention, the clerks and the
Government are to be congratulated. They ought
also TO feel satisfaction that the protest made in
their behalf has resulted in the amendments to
the amended rules announced by authority in the
editorial column OF the Post. 1t is fitting that
rules framed, it is now confessed, Or the purpose
OF removing barnacles designed to effect by indi-
rect methods wholesale dismssals from the serv-
tce but making the false pretense of being merely
regulations for promotion, should be amended In
a like indirect and underhanded manner. The Post
announces by authority OF the Civil-Service Com
mission that clerks are to be retained and pro-
NOTED for efficiency alone: that the examination
will not be Of such scholastic character as TO
baffle a really efficient, and valuable clerk who
has grown rusty in general knowledge; that
the highest importance Will be given TO reports Of
efficiency, made up from permanent daily record
kept OF every clerk by the immediate superior and
and that mo clerk will be examined more than
once prior to promotion All the first-class clerks
in a bureau, for instance viii be examined for
second-claSs vacancy; and those who pass above
20 per cent Will he examined no more till they
have been promoted to various vacancies that oc-
eur and are examined in the higher class for fur
Their promotion"
There is nothing Of course in the new rules
which makes practical and not scholastic efficiency
the real test in these examinations, and nothing
which limits the number of examinations prior TO
promotion TO one. These amendments are fmpOr-
tant and should be officially promulgated 1t will
be especially pleasing TO the clerks TO know that
they need 10 pass only one examination
10 be eligible to promotion TO any
position in a higher class and to escape
dismissal But it is highly probable that some
amendment 10 this amendment Will be necessary.
The members OF each class OF clerks do not per-
form the same but great variety of duties. When
vacancy occurs all the members Of the next
lower class are be examined as TO practical 1T
ness 70 perform efficiently the duties OF th aeant
ONCE. The result OF that examination Will stare
them the road 10 dismissal from the lower office
which they held. or it will establish their fitness
10 NIL any Office, not special, in the higher class
no matter how different its duties may be from
the one concerning which the examination was
held. Now, that the process OF amendment
has begun, it IS TO be hoped that it
Will not stop until examinations for pro-
motion are entirely separated from examf-
nations to fitness to hold an Office already occu-
pied; until the examinations for promotion are
voluntary, and are directed to ascertain the prac-
teal fitness of the applicant to perform efficiently
the precise duties which viii fall 60 him in the va
can't 0fice, general business efficiency being wen
determined by the proposed permanent daily rec
ord and until the examinations for fitness to hold
an Office occupied, II they are to be established
cover all employees who have not secured positions
by competitive examination, relate solely to fit
ness TO perform present duties, and occur If more
than once, only at very long intervals. The
daily record would seem TO be continuing prac-
teal examination to efficiency to perform pre-
sent duties, which would render other examina-
lions unnecessary to enable superior official to
determine whether or not his clerk should be dis
missed for inef1c1ency. The method proposed by
the new muddled and muddling rules is expensive,
unjust, unfair, and absurd, and the change. in
stead Of being forward move in true civil service
reform, seems 10 be in the nature Of sop thrown
toward the spoilsmen, but tossed in such a
bungling roundabout, crOSS-eyed fashion that no/,
one Is likely to derive any benefit from it
william O,Brien is making Lord Transformers
L
able even than 1t used to be- and it has never been
all that an easelov1ng chief magistrate could AJAX
The object Of the Irish editors tour Is 10 str IN
such sentiment among the Canadians that they
VIII do what they can 10 disparage and degrade
his loriShtp in the esteem OF the home govern
Inent and OF the people OF England. The effort
may be successful as concerns the arouSinc of
Canadian sentiment, but 1t is a question whether
q moral hide as tough as the Salisbury govern
ment's has shown itself to be, would be affected
very much by any expression OF feeling from colo
MES 1900 miles distant. Lord Lansdowne,s
treatment Of his tenants is no new thing 1t was
urged as an objection 70 his appointment origf
nally and the history OF his ancestors is merely
repeated in his own The testimony OF Mr. Frenc,,
perhaps the most Intelligent agent the family e.
tate ever had, is given in his well-hnown ,oeor-
Realities OF Irish Life" whose pictures NJ rbe
Affairs there are the more significant from Che fact
that the author was a friend and attorney n, 1ha
landlord, not OF the tenants Mr. OBrieu,s tournav
through the Dominion Will be watched with az
much interest on this side Of the fortyIintb n.r-
ael as On the other, for it Will put the Ioyalty Of
the Canadians, as well as their bfnevoIence n,
spirit, TO pretty severe test.
III Is An advertising age, and the ready.nade
N mo- Inns mos SOlfff dc